The fitfth study of European timber trends and prospects (ETTS V), presents past trends and scenarios for the outlook for the supply and demand of roundwood and forest products in Europe, from 1965 to 2020. It reviews the policy context, the economic and demographic background, the outlook for the forest resource (area, growing stock and removals), external influences on the forest (notably pollution and climate change, as well as the European forest's contribution to the carbon budget), supply and dem and for forest products (econometric projections), use of wood residues, waste paper recycling, Europe's trade with other regions, wood energy, and the outlook for the transition economies. On the basis of this analysis, and a material balance model, it presents two quantified base scenarios for the sector to 2020, as well as alternative scenarios (some quantitative, some qualitative) , with differing assumptions about prices, raw material costs, construction activity, waste paper recovery, energy prices and policy, environmental policies and reduced global availability of wood. It also presents conclusions and implications for policy, as well as indications as regards the sustainability of the forest and forest products sector in Europe.
